SB 10.69.9 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

विष्टब्धं विद्रुमस्तम्भैर्वैदूर्यफलकोत्तमै: । इन्द्रनीलमयै: कुड्यैर्जगत्या चाहतत्विषा ॥ ९ ॥ वितानैर्निर्मितैस्त्वष्ट्रा मुक्तादामविलम्बिभि: । दान्तैरासनपर्यङ्कैर्मण्युत्तमपरिष्कृतै: ॥ १० ॥ दासीभिर्निष्ककण्ठीभि: सुवासोभिरलङ्कृतम् । पुम्भि: सकञ्चुकोष्णीषसुवस्‍त्रमणिकुण्डलै: ॥ ११ ॥ रत्नप्रदीपनिकरद्युतिभिर्निरस्त- ध्वान्तं विचित्रवलभीषु शिखण्डिनोऽङ्ग । नृत्यन्ति यत्र विहितागुरुधूपमक्षै- र्निर्यान्तमीक्ष्य घनबुद्धय उन्नदन्त: ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

viṣṭabdhaṁ vidruma-stambhair vaidūrya-phalakottamaiḥ indranīla-mayaiḥ kuḍyair jagatyā cāhata-tviṣā vitānair nirmitais tvaṣṭrā muktā-dāma-vilambibhiḥ dāntair āsana-paryaṅkair maṇy-uttama-pariṣkṛtaiḥ dāsībhir niṣka-kaṇṭhībhiḥ su-vāsobhir alaṅkṛtam pumbhiḥ sa-kaṣcukoṣṇīṣa su-vastra-maṇi-kuṇḍalaiḥ ratna-pradīpa-nikara-dyutibhir nirasta- dhvāntaṁ vicitra-valabhīṣu śikhaṇḍino ’ṅga nṛtyanti yatra vihitāguru-dhūpam akṣair niryāntam īkṣya ghana-buddhaya unnadantaḥ

Synonyms

viṣṭabdham — supported ; vidruma — of coral ; stambhaiḥ — by pillars ; vaidūrya — of vaidūrya gems ; phalaka — with decorative coverings ; uttamaiḥ — excellent ; indranīla — mayaiḥ — bedecked with sapphires ; kuḍyaiḥ — with walls ; jagatyā — with a floor ; ca — and ; ahata — constant ; tviṣā — whose effulgence ; vitānaiḥ — with canopies ; nirmitaiḥ — constructed ; tvaṣṭrā — by Viśvakarmā ; muktā — dāma — of strands of pearls ; vilambibhiḥ — with hangings ; dāntaiḥ — of ivory ; āsana — with seats ; paryaṅkaiḥ — and beds ; maṇi — with jewels ; uttama — most excellent ; pariṣkṛtaiḥ — decorated ; dāsībhiḥ — with maidservants ; niṣka — lockets ; kaṇṭhībhiḥ — upon whose throats ; su — vāsobhiḥ — well-dressed ; alaṅkṛtam — adorned ; pumbhiḥ — with men ; sa — kaṣcuka — wearing armor ; uṣṇīṣa — turbans ; su — vastra — fine clothing ; maṇi — jeweled ; kuṇḍalaiḥ — and earrings ; ratna — jewel-bedecked ; pradīpa — of lamps ; nikara — many ; dyutibhiḥ — with the light ; nirasta — dispelled ; dhvāntam — darkness ; vicitra — variegated ; valabhīṣu — on the ridges of the roof ; śikhaṇḍinaḥ — peacocks ; aṅga — my dear (King Parīkṣit) ; nṛtyanti — dance ; yatra — wherein ; vihita — placed ; aguru — of aguru ; dhūpam — incense ; akṣaiḥ — through the small holes in the latticed windows ; niryāntam — going out ; īkṣya — seeing ; ghana — a cloud ; buddhayaḥ — thinking it to be ; unnadantaḥ — crying loudly .

Translation

Supporting the palace were coral pillars decoratively inlaid with vaidūrya gems. Sapphires bedecked the walls, and the floors glowed with perpetual brilliance. In that palace Tvaṣṭā had arranged canopies with hanging strands of pearls; there were also seats and beds fashioned of ivory and precious jewels. In attendance were many well-dressed maidservants bearing lockets on their necks, and also armor-clad guards with turbans, fine uniforms and jeweled earrings. The glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled all darkness in the palace. My dear King, on the ornate ridges of the roof danced loudly crying peacocks, who saw the fragrant aguru incense escaping through the holes of the latticed windows and mistook it for a cloud.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Supporting the palace were coral pillars decoratively inlaid with vaidūrya gems. Sapphires bedecked the walls, and the floors glowed with perpetual brilliance. In that palace Tvaṣṭā had arranged canopies with hanging strands of pearls; there were also seats and beds fashioned of ivory and precious jewels. In attendance were many well-dressed maidservants bearing lockets on their necks, and also armor-clad guards with turbans, fine uniforms and jeweled earrings. The glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled all darkness in the palace. My dear King, on the ornate ridges of the roof danced loudly crying peacocks, who saw the fragrant aguru incense escaping through the holes of the latticed windows and mistook it for a cloud. KB 10.69.9-12 The great sage Nārada entered one of these houses and saw that the pillars were made of coral and the ceilings were bedecked with jewels. The walls as well as the arches between the pillars glowed from the decorations of different kinds of sapphires. Throughout the palace were many canopies made by Viśvakarmā that were decorated with strings of pearls. The chairs and other furniture were made of ivory and bedecked with gold and diamonds, and jeweled lamps dissipated the darkness within the palace. There was so much incense and fragrant gum burning that the scented fumes were coming out of the windows. The peacocks sitting on the steps became illusioned by the fumes, mistaking them for clouds, and began dancing jubilantly. There were many maidservants, all of whom were decorated with gold necklaces, bangles and beautiful saris. There were also many menservants, nicely dressed in cloaks and turbans and jeweled earrings. Beautiful as they were, the servants were all engaged in different household duties.

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “There was so much incense and fragrant gum burning that the scented fumes were coming out of the windows. The peacocks sitting on the steps became illusioned by the fumes, mistaking them for clouds, and began dancing jubilantly. There were many maidservants, all of whom were decorated with gold necklaces, bangles and beautiful sārīs. There were also many male servants, who were nicely decorated in cloaks and turbans and jeweled earrings. Beautiful as they were, the servants were all engaged in different household duties.”

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The palace is described in four verses. It had coral pillars supporting roofs of vaidurya and shining floors. Seeing the aguru incense streaming through the lattices, the peacocks thought the smoke was clouds.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Taking one palace, the main elements are first described. Āhata-tviṣā means that the place never got dirty. It was always brilliant. The main furnishings are described. Viśvakarmā produced the couches and seats. The attendants are then described. There were female servants and young boys dressed in fine lower and upper cloths (su-vastra). The beauty above is described. The lamps were situated in the rooms. From this it is understood that Nārada had arrived at night. Though he saw activities of different parts of the day, he actually went simultaneously to each palace to examine the Lord’s activities. When he saw the Lord sitting on the couch it was evening. The peacocks could see the aguru incense smoke though it was night, because of the presence of jeweled lamps. The palaces of the other queens were similar.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

The main elements are described. The floors were always shining and not broken even though walked on by many people, or because of the sunlight, they continually shone. The chief furnishings are described. Since they were made by Viśvakarmā they were most attractive and celestial. “Made by Viśvakārmā” can be applied to all the elements mentioned. The palace had chairs and beds made of ivory. The main attendants are described. Niṣkās are mentioned among all the ornaments since they were the best. It was expected that the women would wear many other ornaments as well. The servant boys were also ornamented. They wore splendid lower garments, vests and turbans. The articles mentioned are in order of size from larger to smaller. Though it was night and incense filled the air, the peacocks could be seen. The darkness within the rooms was destroyed at all times by jeweled lamps. The items previously described are causes of the peacocks dancing. Śukadeva calls to Parīkṣit in joy (aṅga)! On the house the peacocks danced and cried out loudly, thinking the incenses smoke was a cloud. This first house is representative of all the queens’ houses.